The Manila Times College signs another landmark agreement

The Manila Times College (TMTC) President Dr. Isagani Cruz (fourth from right) and University of Luzon Vice President for Academics Dr. Aurora Samson-Reyna (fourth from left) sign the MOA for the University of Luzon Dual Degree Program. Witnessing the ceremony are (from left) Dr. Merle Quinto, University of Luzon College of Education dean, Imelda Cuartel, College of Arts dean, Dr. Virginia Nisperos, TMTC dean, The Manila Times Publisher Rene Q. Bas, Dr. Efren Abulencia and Ms. Monica DV. Ang. PHOTO BY EDWIN MULI

The Manila Times College (TMTC) continues to widen its network of young talents as it forms another partnership—this time with the University of Luzon (UL) in Pangasinan—with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on June 20 at The Manila Times offices in Intramuros, Manila.

The MOA signed by TMTC President Dr. Isagani Cruz and UL Vice President for Academics Dr. Aurora Samson-Reyna promises dual-degree programs for UL students taking up related courses in communication, education or English, and who would want to develop their skills in journalism.

“The students will really benefit from a double degree, especially those who take Mass Communications, English or Education in the university. This is an option for them to also have a degree in journalism, which will be provided by TMTC,” Reyna explained.

“They will also have a rare and valued opportunity to have their practicum in one of the pioneers in the newspaper industry, The Manila Times, and this will be good training for the students,” she said.

With the planned economic integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2015, TMTC readies itself to be the “journalism hub of the Asean region.”

“The main thrust of TMTC is to form linkages between different schools in the Philippines so we can offer a journalism degree to students all over the country who are taking up courses related to the communications field,” the TMTC president said.

Recognizing the need to involve other learning institutions in the country, Cruz has continued to forge linkages in schools nationwide to further enhance the skills set of Filipino students that will make them more competent to work in different companies within the region.

Since his leadership as TMTC president beginning 2011, he has managed to form partnerships with some of the most respectable schools nationwide, including the Emilio Aguinaldo College, Lyceum, Manuel L. Quezon College, Don Bosco Technical College, Asia Pacific College and the National College of Science and Technology. Colleges such as the Thammassat University in Thailand and the Goethe-Institut Frankfurt in Germany also have formal linkages with TMTC.

Speaking of this new partnership with the University of Luzon, Cruz said, “The Pangasinan region is home to an interesting breed in the political sphere. This is a major step toward veering away from the Manila centrism of journalism” Cruz said.

He also mentioned that Pangasinan is in need of campus newspaper advisers, and 7,000 posts await graduates of the dual degree program.

“We [TMTC] cannot be alone if we want to be the center of journalism in the region. We have to involve different learning institutions in the country to make Filipino students more competent,” Cruz said.